Watchdog: State delays tax refunds for thousands

State: Effort to fight ID fraud

9:08 AM,
Mar. 15, 2013

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New Jersey is delaying income tax refunds to more than 13,000 filers by as long as three months as part of an effort by the state Treasury Department to reduce what it says is the growing problem of tax-refund identity fraud.

In all, the state flagged 22,000 returns filed in February for additional scrutiny - and some suspect the Division of Taxation's ulterior motive is to hang onto millions in taxpayers' money as long as possible.

Edward Ricciardi, managing member of the Central Jersey Tax Services accounting firm in Howell, said every client who is due a refund of more than $1,000 from the ...